REVISED May 3^rd, 2012

Rules and Regulations

1. Each team can submit a maximum of 20 players for their team roster. The league will honour 20 of the winning team(s) players only with trophies/gifts. The 20 players can include both full time and reserve players. All team captains will receive a player list for teams in their division at the beginning of the season and at the midway point.

2. All teams must provide either through online registration or written a team roster to the league 2 weeks prior to the start of the season. Captains must sign off on the roster at that time and approve the roster. Players not on this roster will not be eligible to play. A revised list may be submitted at the midway point of the season (league to determine) to accommodate any attrition. After this time, no other roster changes are allowed. Only opposing team captains or assistants will have the authority to question any other team's player(s) after one full inning of play. Photo ID must be produced by the player(s) in question within 10 minutes of the challenge. If an invalid player is proven to be playing or participating as a player on the bench, the game is automatically forfeited as a 7-0 score regardless of the score at the time. If the player questioned can not produce photo ID, then that player can not participate in the game and the game may resume.

2. (a) Each team must also identify 1-2 female players eligible for multiple team play. These players will be limited to playing no more than 2 regular season games for any one specific team outside their division to a maximum of 4 games per year. These players may only be used if existing female players are not available. These players must present their player card to umpires before beginning of game. To book a player, captains must contact the captain of the eligible female player 2 days prior to game day. Female players captain will authorize use of player after consulting directly with player within 1 day of being contacted.

3. In 3 pitch divison each team can field 5 men and 5 women. If you do not have a full team, you may field a maximum of 5 men and a minimum of 3 women. Any less than 8 total players constitute a default. You must have a minimum of 3 women to avoid default, and cannot replace the fourth and/or fifth women with men. Teams with more women than men can replace any or all of their men with women players. The rule differs in the slopitch division, you may field 6 men and 4 women. You still need a minumum of 3 women and a minimum of 8 total players to continue play, unless an injury brings the total number of players below 8.

4. Other than eligible female shared players, a  team may only use players identified on the identified association listing provided at the beginning of the year as well as player changes identified in the mid year roster. No other players are permitted to play. Companies with more than one team may not use players from other company teams. Players are only allowed to play for one team in the MBBL.

5. The batting order must consist of a male/female or female/male sequence. There will be no changes allowed in the batting order in terms of taking a batter from one position in the order and putting him/her into another position. The order may change due to an odd number of batters on your team. This male/female sequence must continue from the end of one inning to the beginning of the next (i.e. finish 2nd inning with a male, start inning 3 with a female). All players who show up to the game and are eligible to participate must be placed on the team line up. All players are required to bat (based on their position in the batting line up) and must remain in the batting line up unless injury forces a player out. Players on the list can be substituted defensively in and out of the game based on team captain/co-captain decision during the game.

6. Pinch runners are only allowed if a roster player has an existing injury or suffers an injury during the game. If a team begins the game with enough players and, through injury(s) falls below the minimum number of players (men or women) the game can proceed to the end without default. Teams must use the last guy/girl out as pinch runner. Anyone requiring a pinch runner due to an existing injury must be identified before the game. Pinch runners must be of same sex. Pinch runners must start from first base if the roster batter acquires first base on the original at bat.  . Teams cannot replace runners already on base with a new runner unless an injury has occurred. If an injury occurs to any offensive or defensive player during the game, that player may be taken out of the game and replaced with another player due to the injury. The injured player is allowed 1 full inning to recover and may go back into the game after that period. If the same player is injured a second time and removed from the game they will not be allowed to play for the rest of the game.

7. In 3 pitch division your pitcher will pitch to you while your team is at bat. Lob ball only meaning that there must be only one single motion by pitchers arm to deliver the ball to the plate underhanded (no windmill type or half pipe pitches like in regular softball). The velocity of the ball delivery to the plate can be at any speed. There is no required arc rule. All players  are allowed 3 pitches before an out is recorded. . If you fail to get a hit after the allotted number of pitches you are out. In Slopitch division an opposing pitcher is required to pitch the ball with a  an arc between 6 and 12 feet. If ball hits mat it is considered a strike. If it misses the mat it is considered a ball unless the batter swings.

7 (a) For Slo pitch division if you walk a male batter he automatically receives 2nd base if followed by a female. The female batter then has the option to either take her at bat, OR she can take 1st base instead.

8. In 3 pitch division, the pitcher is not allowed to touch a ball hit by the batter. If the ball should hit the pitcher, the batter is out and base runners do not advance. The pitcher must also make an effort to remain clear of the defensive play once the ball has been hit including clearing way for any infield throws between bases. Defensive team must have control of the ball in the infield for the play to be discontinued. In slopitch division the pitcher may field the ball. In either division any pitcher/catcher defensive combination can be used by teams (ie. male/male, male/female, female/female).

9. Lead-offs are not allowed and runners may advance only after the ball has made contact with the bat. Runner(s) leading-off any base are automatically out. A lead off is considered when the runner's foot leaves the bag before the ball is struck.

10. Stealing and bunting are not allowed. A bunt is defined as an infield hit in which the batter does not follow through with a full swing of the bat. Drag bunts are also not allowed.

11. To avoid collisions at first base, a double bag system will be used. One bag must be on the inside of the foul line and one bag must be immediately parallel on the outside (foul territory) of the line. To record an out at first, the defensive player must touch the bag on the inside of the foul line before the runner has reached the bag on the outside of the foul line. The defensive player is not allowed to tag the runner going to first. On a base hit, the runner can touch either of the two first base bags providing there is no danger of collision.

12. Bases should be approximately 65 feet between each other on all diamonds.

13. Because sliding is not allowed at home base, a player running from third base must cross a line of commitment which will be three quarters down the third base line towards home. Once the runner crosses the commitment line he/she must continue home. The runner must cross an extended home plate base line to score a run. The line must be drawn from the front of the plate back toward the screen. If the ball is caught by the catcher and the catcher is touching home plate, the runner failing to cross the home plate line is out. No tagging of the runner is allowed. Runners touching or sliding at home plate are automatically out.

14. Steel spikes are not allowed. Soccer or baseball shoes with rubber studs are allowed.

15. Each game will consist of 7 innings. The game is allotted 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete. There will be no new inning started after 1 hour and 5 minutes, with no pitch after the allotted match time. We will revert back to the last completed inning if in the middle of an incomplete inning at 1 hour and 15 minutes. If the full 7 innings cannot be completed because of time, rain, darkness, or other unexpected reasons, then the score at the end of the last full inning will stand. A minimum of 4 full innings must be completed for the game to be considered a complete game. There will be a replay if 4 full innings were not completed and the score will begin at 0-0 for that replayed game. There will be no "game completed" curfew imposed for any game. Every attempt should be made to complete the game in the allotted time.

16. Starting times are indicated on each schedule. There  is a grace period of 10 minutes allowed during the regular season or playoff games; Games times during playoffs will be  allotted 1 hour 10 minutes and no new inning after 60 minutes .. The league has the right to assign and/or change game times/dates/locations during the playoffs to accommodate league scheduling. Teams will not be provided with specific special request game times/dates or locations during playoffs. During playoffs, teams are not allowed to contact each other to re-schedule playoff games without league permission.

17.If a ball is overthrown, and the ball remains in play, runners may advance at their own discretion. If the ball is overthrown over the fence or into the dug-out at first or third, will constitutes a 1 plus 1 award for all batter/runners from the time of the throw..

18. The designated home team must supply an acceptable league approved ball for the game. Slopitch divison ball is 12" .44cor 400 compression (white preferred any manufacturer) 3 pitch division is 12" .40cor 400 compression Grey Dot.  Failure to produce acceptable league approved ball will result in default. Opposing captains have option to overrule the default and provide the ball, however this is at their own discretion and are not obligated. Other equipment (i.e. bases, uniforms, bats, gloves) are the responsibility of each team. Teams may only use official softball bats and may not use hardball bats. Only bats listed on the official NSA "Approved Bat list" may be used in the MBBL. However the MBBL does have its own Banned Bat List (see pdf on website). All disallowed bats must not be used during the game. If a disallowed bat is identified, and used in the game that team will have that player ejected from the game and the team may continue to play the game as long as they still have the required number of players available. Home team supplies the bases for that game, however, both teams must co-operate if not enough bases are available.

19. Captains are responsible for contacting each other if they are planning to default their game. One captain must be designated to contact league as well, before 12:00 noon of game day to advise of the   default. Failure to contact league by assigned time will result in a $30 penalty (split by both teams). Teams will be given 5 days to pay fine from date of postponement, failure to pay fine will result in suspended play for team. Postponed games will be re-scheduled by the league at their discretion. Once re-scheduled, teams cannot change due to any reason.

20 The umpire will be responsible for making all calls. The umpire's call is final. No player is allowed to voice any obscenity or comments about the call or the other players. Players must remain in the dug-out during the discussion. The umpire  have the authority to remove any player for un-sportsmanlike conduct. The MBBL is a member of NSA Canada. Umpires will enforce MBBL rules, however should a MBBL rule not be available, umpires will refer to NSA rules at their discretion.

21. If a hit ball should strike an object on the field, trees, go over any fences/portable, or go into another playing field, it will still be in play. A ball hit over the outfield fence is considered an automatic home run. If the play is interfered with by anyone other than a designated player, the umpire will decide on the correct call.

22. If a fly or foul ball is caught, the base runners can tag up and advance. A ball is considered available for a play providing it is between the foul line and an extended line from the end of the screen down first and third base. If the ball is beyond the extended screen line (in other words in the seats), the ball is out of available play.

23. Outfielders, including rovers, are not allowed to line up defensively on the dirt portion of the infield. During a play, outfielders and rovers may enter the dirt portion of the infield. Outfielders are not allowed to throw a ball from outfield to first base to record an out if ball is originally hit by batter. Also, all infield players must line up behind baseline prior to ball being hit. Only exception to this rule is pitcher.

24. If a bat is considered thrown by the batter and it makes contact with a defensive player or umpire, the batter is automatically out and will be ejected. If the bat does not make contact, batter is provided with one warning. This warning will also be considered a team warning. Next thrown bat is recorded as an out and an ejection.

25. Winning teams must call in or fax the score to the fax/tel nr. 905-762-6303, or report the score online at www.mbbl.ca before 12:00 noon the day after the game. Failure to report the score by 12:00 noon will result in a 0-0 score being recorded. No exceptions will be made for this whatsoever. In a tie game the home team must report the score. All teams will utilize the official association scoresheets or provide their own sheet and will retain the sheets for each game in the event of any issues requiring league inspection.

26. Game times, dates, locations will not be altered for any reason from the set schedule.

27. A ground rule double will be in effect for balls landing in fair territory and bouncing over the outfield fence at Highgate, Randall and Milliken Mills diamonds or diamonds were an outfield fence is present. If the ball clears the fence in fair territory at these parks, it is considered a home run. However, at Dennison Park or others without an outfield fence, captains will meet prior to the beginning of the game to identify a home run "boundary line"  in the outfield that goes from left to right field. If the ball is hit and carries in the air over this boundary line, it is considered a home run and the home run rule shall apply. The decision to award this type of home run is left to the umpire at the time of the play. No ground rule double rule specific to home runs will apply in parks with no outfield fence. At all diamonds if a ball is hit fair and rolls beyond the extended fence line down third base or first, it is a ground rule double and all base runners advance 2 bases from original position.

28. If a team is playing with only 3 women and all three are on base when it is a woman's turn at bat, the furthest advanced women base runner may leave the base to bat. That woman is not replaced on base and the team forfeits that potential run. Her removal from the base constitutes an out. If this is the third out, the inning is over.

29. No blocking by the defensive player of the bases is allowed. Base runners are given priority to the base if a throw to the base is not forthcoming. If the defensive player interferes with the base runner, the runner is entitled to take an extra base. Base runners are not allowed to run beyond a reasonable distance from the baseline to avoid a tag. Base runners are not allowed to interfere with the defensive play whatsoever including slide rolls or waiving hands in the air in an attempt to obstruct the defensive play.

30. To ensure fair competition, a maximum of 7 total runs by any one team can be scored. After 7 runs, the inning is over and the defensive team goes to bat. This will be in effect for all innings  except ; inning 7 or last inning called by umpire due to time restraints which now allows unlimited runs by either team.

31. If the away team is losing after the top of the 7 th inning, the game is over. The home team does not go to bat in the bottom of the 7th.

32. Playoff games cannot end in a tie unless it is during the final game of the round robin competition when run differential is a factor. If run differential cannot decide a winner in that game, the next run wins.

33. Match plus Two Home run rule - No team can be up in home runs over the other team by more than two during any point in the game. An out will be applied if more than 2 home runs are hit by the batting team once the match plus two rule is in effect. A home run is considered a ball hit over the outfield fence on the fly in parks with an outfield fence or identified boundary line (ie Dennison Park). The rule does not apply to inside the park home runs hit at any park. This rule applies to all divisions. Teams must keep track of home runs hit by opposition to ensure accuracy.

34. Rainout/Game cancellations - Teams should always be prepared to be at the diamond ready to play at the assigned time unless the league has advised you of a permit/game cancellation. League will notify teams by 3:00 p.m. if a permit/game has been cancelled. Umpires are given authorization to either play or not play game given conditions. If a game has been cancelled, captains are responsible for rebooking game via website under rainouts section. Should any one team not comply by being available at the diamond for play and a decision by umpire is made that game could be played, the team without required players will default. If both teams are not present and a decision is made by umpire game conditions are favourable, the game will be recorded as a tie.